IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,072,688
Granted Patent B2
US 10,072,688 · App. 14/990,903 · Granted Sep 11, 2018

Clip connection and clip element

Inventors: Maik Hammer (Bruckberg, DE); Johann Van Niekerk (Munich, DE)
Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
F16B5/0664F16B5/0642F16B21/073
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,072,688
App. No.
14/990,903
Granted
Sep 11, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A clip connection includes a first component, a male fixing element protruding from the first component, the male fixing element having a first portion connected directly to the first component and a second spherical portion adjoining the first portion, and a clip element that is clipped onto the male fixing element. The clip element has a plurality of clamping jaws spaced apart from one another in a circumferential direction of the clip element. The plurality of clamping jaws bear against the spherical portion from below beneath an equatorial plane of the second spherical portion.

Claims (32)

1. A clip connection, comprising:

a first component;

a male fixing element projecting from the first component, the male fixing element having a first spherical portion connected directly to the first component and a second spherical portion connected to the first portion;

a clip element that is clipped onto the male fixing element, wherein

the clip element has a plurality of clamping jaws spaced apart from one another in a circumferential direction of the clip element, and

the plurality of clamping jaws bear against the spherical portion from below beneath an equatorial plane of the second spherical portion.

2. The clip connection according to claim 1 , wherein the clip element further comprises a shield-ring portion projecting from a lower region of the clamping jaws.

3. The clip connection according to claim 2 , wherein the clamping jaws are separated from one another by clamping-jaw slots.

4. The clip connection according to claim 3 , wherein the clamping-jaw slots extend from a top side of the clamping jaws to the shield-ring portion.

5. The clip connection according to claim 4 , wherein:

the shield-ring portion has shield-ring slots spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction of the clip element,

the shield-ring slots extend in a radial direction of the clip element, and

a respective shield-ring lobe is provided between two adjacent shield-ring slots in the circumferential direction.

6. The clip connection according to claim 5 , wherein the shield-ring slots are arranged offset with respect to the clamping-jaw slots viewed in the circumferential direction of the clip element.

7. The clip connection according to claim 6 , wherein

each of the shield-ring lobes extends in each case over half of a first clamping jaw and over half of an adjacent second clamping jaw viewed in the circumferential direction.

8. The clip connection according to claim 5 , wherein the clip element has at least three shield-ring slots and shield-ring lobes.

9. The clip connection according to claim 5 , wherein the clip element has only four shield-ring slots and shield-ring lobes.

10. The clip connection according to claim 1 , wherein the clip element has at least three clamping jaws and clamping-jaw slots.

11. The clip connection according to claim 1 , wherein the clip element has only four clamping jaws and clamping-jaw slots.

12. The clip connection according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a second component having a through-hole, wherein

the male fixing element extends through the through-hole of the second component.

13. The clip connection according to claim 12 , wherein:

at least the shield-ring portion of the clip element bears against the second component on a side remote from the first component in a region near the through-hole, and

the shield-ring portion opposes any pulling of the second component off the first component, wherein a pull-off force acting on the second component generates a bending moment in the shield-ring lobes, the bending moment pressing the clamping jaws against the second spherical portion of the male fixing element to provide a self-locking action.

14. The clip connection according to claim 1 , wherein:

the first and second spherical portions are welded together.

15. The clip connection according to claim 1 , wherein the male fixing element is made of metal.

16. The clip connection according to claim 1 , wherein the male fixing element is made of steel.

17. The clip connection according to claim 1 , wherein the male fixing element is welded to the first component.

18. The clip connection according to claim 1 , wherein the clip element is made of a plastic material.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 8, 2016
From: HAMMER, MAIK; VAN NIEKERK, JOHANN
To: BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Reel/Frame 037438/0698 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2013 218 649 · Sep 18, 2013 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTEP2014067380 · Aug 14, 2014
Related Publication 20160123363A1 · May 5, 2016
Cited By (1)
US 12,281,669